Roll type collapsible tube squeezer



Nov. 14, 1950 0.1:. DERRICK ,530,

' ROLL TYPE GVOLLAPSIBLE TUBE SQUEEZER Filed Nov. 18, 1946 FIG.3.

3/ @v 3 A; 20 I? olz /5. Q4 1.. 72 4 46 I ZZ 5+ 75 7 INVENTOK FIG.4. 7 i4 1 r; l.. DOUGLAS D. DERRICK fry M/ 20 m /2 4 v HTToKA/Er Patented Nov. 14, 1950 uNsLTEn ST TES P AiT it ROLL TYPE COLLAP SIBLE' TUBF SQUEEZER Douglas -D.-Derrick, St; Louis;Mo: Application November- 18, 1946, Serial No. 710,529 spleens; (o1. 2 22=-102') l This invention relates to improvements in tube holders for collapsible tubes of the character generally employed for containing readily. dis;

pensable material such .as.,tth paste, shaving in the container, and a selectively operableclosure for the discharge opening therein.

Another important object of the invention is; toprovide a collapsible tube container of the character indicated, wherein is embodied novel and effective means for'collapsing the tube to eject as much or aslittle of the contents thereof as maybe desired at any one time, the collapsing,

means being manually operated and of a charac Y ter to afiord a progressively complete collapse off the tube, whereby to assure the dispensing ultimately, of substantially the entire tube content.

A further object is to provide a collapsible tube container and dispensing device of the character indicated, which maybe operatively supported on a wall orother support convenient to the use of the device, or which may be readily held in the hand of an operator and manually actuated while so held.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear readily from the following description of-a presently preferred embodiment thereof, as such is illustrated by the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective elevational view greatly reduced in size, of a dispensing container form.- a

ing the subject of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation of the device, as taken longitudinally thereof along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section in side elevation, as taken along line 3-3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse or cross sectional view of the device, as appears from the line 4.4 in Fig. 3, and

Fig. 5.is an enlarged, fragmentary detail view of the tube collapsing means, as such appears from the line 55 in Fig. 3.

With reference now to the drawing, the device in its presently preferred embodiment, includes a generally rectangular, box-like housing or casing 'lfi providing a base or bottom wall ll, opposite sidewalls I2 and end walls l4 and IS. The casing is open at the side I6 opposed to the bottom wall)! I, and this open side is normally closed by .a cover or "closure member l8; As appears.

. 2? from-Figs. 1 and ,4, closure l8 vis.releasably.re-,- tainedzonthecasing preferably by a, pair. of f spring-fingers [9,. one securedon each casing; sidewall Hand. eachiprojectingfor snap-em gagement over a boss or ear 20 .outstanding on, the side margin of the closure.

Within casingv iBin-overlying.adjacence tothe bottom wall H, is a plate. member 22..which is, supported at its end. 23 near thecasingend M, for limited swinging. movement toward or fromthc casing wall I l. Pivotal. support of. the plate as herein shown, preferably is afforded bya late eralprojection 2 .at the plate end 23, relatively loosel received in a slot or pocket 2e interiorlyv of thecasing at the juncture of the. casing bottom and end walls II and I4 respectivelmthe pocket. being formed by a flange 21 integralwith the casing As here preferred, the platepro jection E l is provided by turning the plate end portion 23 so that it extends laterally of the plate in a; direction substantially normal to the plane ofthe plate. The opposite plate end 28 which terminates inwardly from the casing endwall 15 approximately to the extent apparing in Figs. 2;and 3',-is rounded orcurved inwardly toward casingwall i i asfshown by Fig.3.

plate and casmg wall, maybe-of a readily de- Interposed-between the plate '22 and casing wallj l I are .-a numberof 'coil compressionsprings ,30, there being two such springs shown in .the. pres: ent example, one located, a suitabledistance in-, wardly fromeachend of plate22 .and positioned such .that:;the axis of ;the, spring substantially intersects the longitudinal axis of theplate. The springs preferablyare secured. to the. plate. and casing. wall .in any: suitable, well known manner. not here thought necessaryof illustration, so that they thus serve to hold the plate 22in its assembly position in. thecasing. If desired, the manner of springattachment .to either or both. the

tachable character, whereby to permit removal of plate. 22 for access to the springs. In assembly, the springs 30 beingcompression springs, impose a yieldable'bias on the plate 22 tending to position the latter =pivotally about its end 23, away-from the-casing wall I I.

The plate 22 'as thus arranged inthe casingl0,- provides an inwardly yieldablesupport orbacking for a collapsible tube'T containing tooth paste; shaving cream or other substance to be 5 dispensed rtherefrom, the tubeT being inserted in the casing through-the open sidel fi'upon removal of casing -closure |8; Upon'insertion, the tube Tis arranged-lengthwise against plate 22, with the tube neckend 3| adjacent gthecasing end'wall' l5 (Fig. 3). Theftube then'isjturnedf about its longitudinal axis such as to engage the-- externallythreaded 118011.32 thereofin a threaded opening 34 7. provided I through. an,.enlarged.- or, thickened wall portion 35iof th'ecasing. end wall l5. The wall opening 34 constitutes the discharge mouth of the device, and it is selectively opened and closed by a manually positionable member 36 which in the present example, is of slide-valve character, providing a port 38 for registry with the wall opening 34. Member 36 is slidably received in dove-tailed manner, in a groove or recess extending lengthwise of the casing end wall IS in the outer surface of the wall portion 35, the member being retained in endwise assembly therein and limited as to its sliding movement, by opposite shoulders 40 formed in the member. Thus as will appear from Fig. 2, the valve member positioned as shown, effectively closes the discharge opening 34, while upon slide displacement thereof to the right as viewed in the figure, the port 38 may be brought into registry with opening 34 to open the latter for the discharge of substance from tube T.

It is to be noted that the threaded opening 34 through wall portion 35, is of tapered character converging toward the outer end of the opening. The degree of taper and the axial length of opening 34 are predetermined so as to be fully adequate for receiving at least in partly-threaded connection therein, any of the several diiferent diameter threaded necks found on collapsible tubes of the sizes prevailing particularly in the retail marketing of tooth paste, shaving cream and the like.

Arranged in casing In in cooperative relation with the tube backing plate 22 and operatively guided thereby, is a compressing device indicated generally at 42, for collapsing tube T to discharge its content. Device 42 in its presently preferred construction, comprises a generally U-shaped operating member 43 providing opposite parallel legs 44 spaced apart by the bridge portion 46, to anextentupreferablyonly slightly exceeding the width of the plate 22 (Fig. 4). The end portion 4! of each leg 44 is extended laterally and forwardly from the leg substantially as shown, wherein for example, the angle between the leg and its extensionmay be approximately 135 degrees. Spanning -the legs therebetween, are a pair of cylindrical roller elements 48 and 50, the roller 48 being between the legs at the juncture of .the lateral extensions .41 therewith, and suitably rotatably carried by the legs through roller axle projections seated through bearing openings in the legs. Roller 50 is between the outer ends of the legextensions 41, and is similarly rotatably supported by roller axle projections 54 seated through bearing openings in the leg extensions. At each side of the member 43 is a link element 56 which has one end pivotally retained on the axle projection 5| of roller 48, and supports at its opposite end an axle or shaft element 58 on which is a short roller 59 which rollingly engages the under side Of plate 22 along the longitudinal side margin thereof (Fig. 4). The extent of the rollers 59 inwardl of plate 22, is such as to afford adequate clearance of the rollers with respect to the springs 30, as the compressing device is moved along the plate.

The link and short roller at each side of the compressing device, are yieldably connected to the roller 58 through the axles 54 of the latter, by means including telescoped members comprising a cylinder-likefmember 50 having one end pivotally secured on roller axle 54 and providing an axial bore 62 therein. receiving a rod or piston 63, the latter at its end 64 being suitably pivotally retained on the axles5 8rof roller 59 (Fig. 5). A tension spring 66 is secured at one end 67 to a pin 68 outstanding on rod 63, and at its opposite end 10 to a like pin H outstanding on member 60, the spring thus holding the cylinder and piston elements in telescoped assembly and tending at all times, to draw them together such as to dispose the piston 63 to substantially its full extent in the bore 62 of cylinder element 60. The telescoped members and '63 greatly enhance the structural stability of the compressor device, these cooperating with the links 56 and guide rollers 59 in contact with plate 22, to prevent turning or twisting of the device relative to the tube T and the plate 22.

The compressing device 42 is manually operable in a manner presently to'be described, by a handle or finger piece 12 located externally of the casing closure l8, on'an arm 14 extending inwardly of the casing through a slot 15 longitudinally in closure [8, to connection with the bridge 46 of member 43.

Turning now to the operation of the device, upon releasing the casing closure 18 from the snap-fingers I9 and displacing the same preferably longitudinally and rearwardly of casing 10 as permitted by the slot 15 through which the handle arm 14 projects, whereby to expose the open side 16 of the casing, the tube T is entered in the casing against the backing plate 22. The tube T is urged inwardly, the backing plate yielding toward casing wall I I to an extent depending upon the size of the tube, until the tube neck 32 is aligned with casing opening 34, when the tube may be moved forwardly and turned to screwseat the tube neck 32 in the threaded opening 34. In so doing, the somewhat flattened tail end 16 of the tube T is brought into fiat seating on the plate 22, whereupon the compressor device initially disposed near the plate end 23, is displaced forwardly until the roller 55 rides up and over the tail end of the tube T. Thus in the initial condition of the device as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, which holds the tube against plate 22, the roller 50 bears against the tube-tail end 16 under a pressure determined by the near-maximum extension of the springs 66 obtained in the relative positions of the compressor parts as shown. In this position, the roller 48 bears upon the inclined portion 18 of the tube adjacent the tail end 16 thereof, while the compressing device as a unit, is held in such position by the spring and link connections with the rollers 59 engaging the underside of plate 22. Now when it is desired to dispense some of the tube content, the slide-valve 36 is manually shifted to bring the port 38 in registry with the casing discharge mouth 34. Following this, the compressing device is manually actuated through the finger piece 12, to rock the U-shaped member 43 forwardly of the tube T, as in the direction of the casing end wall 15. At the same time, the compressing device as a unit is urged forwardly on the tube T, the rollers 59 guiding the device along the plate 22. The combined efiect of rocking and forward displacement of the compressor, is such as to cause a partial collapse of the tube portion 18 by the roller 48 and a substantially complete collapse or flattening of the tub-e body immediately adjacent the tube tail end 16. As this occurs, the tube content is displaced therein to eject a portion of thecontent outwardly from the tube neck through the casing discharge mouth 34 and valve port 38. It is to be observed that by backward rocking of the member 43, the roller 56 may be brought to bear with considerable force upon the portion of the tube rearwardly oi the roller 48, to complete the collapse of such tube portion and in doing so, to cause displacement of any remaining portion of the tube content therein toward the body of substance in the as yet uncollapsed part of the tube T. Accordingly from the foregoing, it will be now appreciated that by rocking the compressing device both forwardly and rearwardly, while urging the same as a unit, forwardly over the tube T along the plate 22, the tube may be readily and easily completely collapsed progressively'from the tail end 16 to the neck end 31 thereof, thus assuring an ultimate complete discharge of all but a very small or insignificant part of its content. This result may be further assured by manually urging the member 42 inwardly of the case (through the finger piece 12) as the device is operated, to press the roller 48 against the collapsible tube.

The curved end 28 of the plate 22 in approaching the wall I l effectively prevents separation of the rollers 59 from the plate, the rollers riding thereover into abutment with the wall H and hence stopped from rolling off the plate end. Moreover, the curved plate end 28 serves a further function, in that when the compressing device attains this end of the plate in the progressive collapsing of the tube, the roller 48 in particular is lowered and brought to bear on the uncollapsed part of the tube in the zone of the tube end 3|. Rocking of the compressing device then will effect through roller 48 as assisted by roller 50, a final collapse at least in major part, of the tube end 3|, thereby squeezing out the little remaining content of the tube.

The tube container and collapsing device as now described, may be readily mounted in operative position on a wall or other support, as through mounting means (not shown) engaged with the casing wall I l or the sides or end walls thereof. If preferred, as when it is desired to transport the device from place to place for use on the spot, it may be held in the hand of an operator and actuated to dispense the tube content in the quantity needed.

Having no fully described the invention in respect to a single, presently preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that alterations or modifications may be made in the parts and operative relationship thereof without departing from the spirit and full intended scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character indicated, a holder for a collapsible tube having a discharge opening, a tube support carried by the holder for receiving the tube thereon, and means movable along said support and cooperating therewith for collapsing the tube to eject its contents through the tube discharge opening, said means comprising an operating member, a guide therefor including roller means engaging said support, relatively spaced pressing rollers carried by said member and each engageable with the tube, a pair of elements one telescoped in the other, connecting said guide and one of said pressing rollers, and a spring connected to said telescoped elements, effective therethrough for yieldably urging said one of the pressing rollers into firm pressing contact with the tube.

2. In a device of the character indicated, a casing for receiving a collapsible tube having a discharge neck, the casing providing an opening through a wall thereof, adapted for receiving the discharge neck of the tube, a support for receiving the tube thereon, said support being swingably mounted in the casing and serving to hold the tube in position with the tube discharge neck in said casing opening, and a tube compressor carried by and movable along said support, adapted for collapsing the tube progressively along the tube length, to eject the tube content through the tube discharge neck and outwardly of the casing through said casing opening, said compressor comprising an operating member having means extending externally of the casing for manual actuation thereof, guide rollers engaging said support, link elements pivotally connecting the guide rollers to said operating member, a pair of tube press rollers carried by the operating member for engagement with the tube, and a yieldable connection including telescoped members, between each of said guide rollers and one of said press rollers, operable to urge the latter into firm pressing contact with the tube.

3. In a device of the character indicated, a casing for receiving a collapsible tube having a discharge neck, said casing providing bottom, side and end walls, a removable closure for said casing, the casing further providing an opening through one end wall thereof, adapted for receiving the discharge neck of the tube, a plate afiording a tube support, swingably mounted in the casing inwardly adjacent the casing bottom wall, means yieldably urging said plate away from the casing bottom wall, said plate serving to hold the tube in position with the tube discharge neck in said casing opening, a tube compressor carried by and movable along said plate, adapted for collapsing the tube progressively along the tube length, to eject the tube contents through the tube discharge neck and outwardly of the casing through said casing opening, said compressor comprising an operating member having relatively spaced, substantially parallel legs each terminating in a leg extension at an angle thereto, a tube press roller carried by the member between said legs and engageable with the tube, a second tube press roller carried by said leg extensions therebetween and engageable with the tube, a pair of guide rollers engaging said plate, a link pivotally connecting each guide roller to one of said legs, telescoped elements connecting DOUGLAS D. DERRICK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,979,105 Harnish Oct. 30, 1934 1,989,713 Smith et a1. Feb. 5, 1935 2,260,346 Spencer Oct. 28, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 708,88; France July 29, 1931 

